HIKMET HAJIZADE: "GUAM IS A "BELT OF SECURITY" USED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAFEGUARD ITSELF FROM RUSSIA"
Today.Az
03 July 2008
Day.Az interview with famous political scientist Hikmet Hajizade.
– How do you assess results of the GUAM summit in Batumi?
– The results prove the continuing expansion of cooperation between
the GUAM states, the formed single outlook on international state in
the region. On the whole, we should be pleased with the activity of
this organization.
– Can we hope for GUAM expansion, particularly, by means of Poland?
– Yes, this idea is being discussed, but it all is abstract. The
thing is that Poland, being the EU member-state, has not completely
found its place in this organization and is constantly arguing with
the main EU states and in such conditions it would be difficult for
Poland to spare energy on a new organization.
– Russia has recently staked on the Crimea card with Ukraine. Don’t
you think it is connected with GUAM’s consolidation?
– I think this is primarily connected with the external
political course of Ukraine striving to reduce its dependence from
Russia. Ukraine wants the withdrawal of the Russian Black Sea fleet
by 2017 and it already states it in open, though 9 years are left
till the deadline, therefore Russia is concerned. Certainly, GUAM is
a tool, Ukraine uses to reduce its dependence on Russia.
– Is GUAM a kind of Europe’s guard from Russia’s gas blackmail?
– In general GUAM is a kind of a security belt, used by the European
Union in an attempt to isolate from Russia. GUAM’s help in the issue
of energy (and gas) security is important for Europe.
– Then, is the first official visit of Russian President Dmitri
Medvedev to our country connected with an attempt to prevent GUAM’s
growing influence on the whole and Azerbaijan’s, in particular,
on the Kremlin’s plans for further speculation with Europe in gas
supplies issue?
– Yes, I think it is true. One of the issues at these talks will be
Russia’s offer to buy Azerbaijani gas to become the gas monopolist and
put pressure on Europe. This issue is more urgent for Russia today,
as compared to GUAM, which is not so active so far.
– Can GUAM promote the resolution of territorial conflicts in the
territory of countries, involved in this organization?
– Today, we get only diplomatic support in this issue, for example
during voting on Karabakh issue in UN. Perhaps, we will also be able
to buy weapon from Ukraine. But it all proves that comprehensive
cooperation in the GUAM framework will expand. I think Azerbaijan
should get involved in GUAM as it is a stair to integration with
democratic Europe.
– Well which are the economic and political advantages of GUAM
membership for Azerbaijan?
– Though today GUAM membership gives us less than bilateral ties with
the GUAM states, with development of our countries and changes in the
geopolitical situation in our region, GUAM will become an important
instrument for attaining our goals. Today, we already see how GUAM
states are voting for US resolutions in support of the interests of
their partners in the organization. Thus, this is a promising start.
– I will broaden my question. Don’t you think Azerbaijan has less
from GUAM membership than Georgia, which gets our gas by privilege
prices and benefits from the transit of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project
through its territory?
– Yes, we help Georgia and I often told this help is excessive. This
is not true. It should be reminded that we help Georgia mainly for
our own interests, as Georgia is our only gate to the world ocean,
and if these gates close, we will suffer from it. We must keep these
gates open.